Hugh Jackman's Rise to Fame: 10 Best Moments of Marvel's Wolverine

Hugh Jackman is one of the most successful and charming Australians to ever grace the Broadway stage and silver screens. His stellar career has displayed his incredible versatility and range as he can comfortably and amazingly perform on Broadway shows while masterfully being synonymous with one of the deadliest and coolest X-Men out there today. His undeniable good looks, unexpected funny bone and incessant charm make him one of the top leading men in Hollywood.

Hugh Jackman and Wife, Deborra-Lee

During his mammoth career he has won an Emmy, a Tony and a Golden Globe, and Jackman continues to make Australians all extremely proud role after role. Let’s take a look back at some of his career highlights, shall we?

1. Jackman totally acing Broadway!

Sometimes we forget that this amazing screen actor started off on the Broadway stage. With his indisputable love for Broadway, Jackman's early performance in Oklahoma! earned him an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. At that stage Jackman said:

"I totally felt like it can't get any better than this. On some level that production will be one of the highlights of my career."

2. He got totally ripped to be the ultimate Wolverine.

In 2001, Jackman was catapulted into Hollywood and mainstream cinema as the ass-kicking, sarcastic but still extremely likable leading man, Wolverine. Alongside starring in most of the X-Men film franchise, he garnered a couple of his own Wolverine movies.

His iconic performance as Wolverine has cemented Jackman into the role as the X-Men's biggest badass. Jackman has said it took him a long time to get used to the claws.

"Every day in my living room, I'd just walk around with those claws, to get used to them. I've got scars on one leg, punctures straight through the cheek, on my forehead. I'm a bit clumsy. I'm lucky I didn't tell them that when I auditioned."

Jackman hasn't set down his claws yet, with the new Wolverine 3 coming up next year. Recent buzz on the movie has rumored that Jackman's Wolverine could be battling the fan favorite, Sabertooth. It's safe to say, audiences are hyped!

3. He got his first Golden Globe Nomination in 2001

At the age of 30, he starred as Leopold in the 2001 romantic comedy film Kate & Leopold, opposite the legendary Meg Ryan. Jackman received his first Best Actor Golden Globe.

4. One of the first Australians to host SNL

Showing off his versatility, Jackman proved that he was more than just a pretty face in 2001 when he hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live. He was hilarious as he showed a different side of himself to his loving fans. Audiences were enchanted by how unexpectedly comedic he could be. Also, doesn't he totally pull off the turtleneck? Even Archer would be jealous!

5. He snagged the leading role in Australia

On of the greatest highlights in his career was his involvement in the 2008 historical, romantic drama Australia, set to the amazing backdrop of the Australian landscape set in the period of WWII.

"This is pretty much one of those roles that had me pinching myself all the way through the shoot. I got to shoot a big-budget, shamelessly old-fashioned romantic epic set against one of the most turbulent times in my native country's history, while, at the same time, celebrating that country's natural beauty, its people, its cultures.... I'll die a happy man knowing I've got this film on my CV."

Jackman replaced Russell Crowe as the leading man in the movie and boy, did Jackman make all the girls' hearts melt in this romantic epic.

6. He is one of the best Tony Awards show hosts ever!

In 2004, Jackman won the Tony Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for his role in The Boy from Oz, which he performed in his homeland, Australia, back in 2006. During this time, Jackman hosted the Tony Awards for three years straight since 2003, garnering positive reviews. He even earned an Emmy Award for it! You go, Hugh!

7. He was an absolute gentlemen at the Oscars

Jackman puts other guys to shame. When he was at the Oscars when Jennifer Lawrence tripped up the stairs to the main stage and gave her a lending hand, trumping all the other guys' efforts. That night Jackman proved that he could be a hero on and off the screen. Can he get anymore perfect?

8. He co-starred with Christian Bale in Christopher Nolan's Prestige

In 2006, Jackman starred in Christopher Nolan's period drama The Prestige that co-starred Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Scarlett Johansson. It was basically Batman vs. Wolverine but instead of superheroes they were up and coming magicians in an battle of deception. Jackman said that his main reason for doing The Prestige was to work with musician David Bowie, who played scientist Nikola Tesla in the film.

9. He was 2012's Sexiest Man Alive

There's nothing much we can say. This is pretty self-explanatory.

10. He performed in Les Miserables and won his first Golden Globe!

Jackman starred as Jean Valjean in the film Les Misérables, an adaptation of the musical. Jackman went through a body transformation in a short period of time, losing and gaining weight for his dynamic character. His emotional and amazing performance gained him a Golden Globe Award win for Best Actor in 2013.

We were so happy to see Jackman win this award, and so was he, obviously!

So there it is, the career of this amazingly hilarious, wonderfully versatile man. Being as great a father as he is as a professional actor, his values, talent and general laid-back demeanor just all accumulate to produce this incredible man that really took the world by storm. Check him out in the upcoming Wolverine 3 and also Pan, [X-Men: Apocalypse](tag:1194267) and his own broadway show, Broadway to Oz!

Poll

Why do you love Hugh Jackman?

His Humor

His Acting

His Singing

His Dancing

His Hosting

His general awesomeness!

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